Dishwasher recirculating assembly



Sept. 10, 1963 J. G. SCHMlTT-MATZEN 3,103,225

DISHWASHER RECIRCULATING ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N E m .z E MM. N M m T G w Wflfi M II I 7 IM D b F 4 w H l 2 05 0 m u I33 j 2 l I G. 7 M 4 N if 3 H (w 0V1 3+ m JB m s a F m 8 I 3 5 u 6mm L, 5 3 5 1 l 3 W .h. u m i m m I 7 T E E 2 0 mm mm 9.. F 5

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DISHWASHER RECIRCULATING ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N h w a 2 3 S I!) N N 8 n 0 m N o 8 r N 0 LL (I) m o n: o 8 '6'; 01 3 m INVENTOR.

JOHN G. SGHMlTT-MATZEN ATTORNEYS I United States Patent 3,103,225 DISHWASHER RECIRCULATING ASSEMBLY John G. Schmitt-Matzen, Bellville, Ohio, assignor to Gorman-Rupp Industries, Inc, Bellviile, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 59,295 5 Claims. (Cl. 134-58) The present invention relates generally to washwater circulating systems for automatic dishwasher assemblies and, more particularly, an automatic dishwasher assembly which recirculates the washwater, mechanically macerates food particles, strains the recirculating water and self-cleans the strainer.

Although the time and labor saving automatic dishwashers found in most modern kitchens provide an adequate mechanical substitute for manually washing and drying the dishes, the dishes must be scraped and rinsed before they are put in the washers. This pre-removal of the food particles is particularly required when the dishwasher is the type employing a spray discharge to impinge the washwater on the dishes, because the food particles would otherwise clog the jets as the washwater is circulated. Even the type of dishwashers which use an impeller for throwing the water against the dishes requires a pre-removal of the food particles to prevent clogging of the drain.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invento provide an automatic dishwasher assembly having a circulating system which allows placing dishes in the dishwasher without first scraping and rinsing off the food particles, even when the dishwasher is the type employing a spray discharge to impinge water against the dishes.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide a dishwasher assembly having a circulating system which requires only one pump for recirculating the water during the washing or rinsing cycles and for pumping out the waste water during the draing cycles.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a dishwasher assembly having a circulating system in which an automatic screening mechanism selectively strains the washwater while it is being circulated through the spray jets, and which cleans itself during the drain cycle.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a dishwasher assembly having a circulating system in which any food particles carried in the water passing through the pump ane mechanically macerated.

These and other objects which will become apparent from the following specification are accomplished by the novel and improved means hereinafter described and claimed.

One preferred and one alternative embodiment are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described in detail without attempting to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied; the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification.

In the present invention a single pump drains the water out of the dishwasher and discharges it through a volute passage in communication with the spray jets which impinge the water upon the dishes. A grille, or coarse mesh screen, is positioned in advance of the pump inlet to prevent silverware or othermaterial, which would be deleterious to the pump or macerating ring, from being dawn into the pump. A fine mesh screen is positioned be tween the grille and the pump to prevent food particles above a certain size from being drawn into the pump while the washwater is being circulated. This screen is preferably of such agauge that particles normally passing therethrough will not clog the jets.

A solenoid-operated flap valve is positioned selectively to direct the flow of washwater through the volute passage to the spray jets or drain in timed sequence. The solenoid which operates the flap valve simultaneously op crates a mechanism which selectively controls the flow either to filter the circulating water or to clean the screen during the drain cycle.

The food particles washed from the screen during the drain cycle are reduced in size by a macerating ring so that they can be safely discharged with the waste water into a domestic santiary system without clogging the pipes.

In the alternative embodiment the food particles washed from the screen are pumped into a disposer unit in the sanitary system with which the drain communioates.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of an embodiment of a dishwasher according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross section taken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken susbtantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4- is a schematic view of an alternative assembly h w n h P mb n an w r n a am w en the dishwasher and a disposer unit in the domestic santiary system.

Referring to FLGS. L3, a dishwasher, identified generally by the numeral 110, includes a cabinet section v1|11 adapted to receive a dish basket, not shown. A sump section 112 is disposed beneath the cabinet 111 and communicates with the inlet 1 13 of a pump 114 through passage 115 in the lowest portion of the sump 1 112.-

A shoulder to recess 116 is preferably provided at the juncture of cabinet 111 and sump 112. A grill, or large mesh screen, 118, secured to frame 119 is removably seated in recess 1:16 to prevent utensils or excessively large bones or food particles from inadvertently entering pump 114. A screen 123 of a generally funnel-like configuration which is secured to a frame 119 is also removably seated in recess 1-16 at the juncture of cabinet 1'11 and sump 11 12. This compound tnuncated conical shape of screen 123 converges to an open end substantially aligned with the inlet 113 of pump .114. A release plate 186 for closing said open end 18 5 is mounted for rotation, as is flap valve 148, by a shaft 149.

The pump 114 is powered by a motor .133 attached beneath the sump 1'12 and adapted to provide the motive power required to rotate the impeller unit 134 within the pump cavity 135, as by nonrotatably connecting motor shaft 136 to the unit 1134. Circumferentially spaced impeller blades I137 extend angularly outwardly from and are attached to the hub 138. Further rigidity is preferably imparted to blades 137 by also securing them to base plate 3 139. Of course, the blades 137, hub 136 and base plate 139 may be integrally formed.

An annular macerating ring, or cutting ring diffuser, 140, encircles the radially outermost ends of the blades 137 and is fixedly received in the housing 130.

Outwardly of ring 140, the pump cavity 135 comprises a volute passage 145 which spirals outwardly into housing 130 as a divergent discharge passageway 147 and communicates at its outer end with a vertical feed pipe 146.

A cap #159 is removably slid over the upper end of the feed pipe 146 and rests on a spring clip 160 seated Within an annular groove 161 in the outer surface of pipe 146. Lateral spray hubs, or other suitable means, not shown, may extend outwardly from cap .159 by which the washing fluid is directed to impinge upon the dishes placed within the cabinet section 111.

A flap valve 148 is swung by rotation of shaft 14 9 selectively to position transversely of volute passage 145 or drain 150 which communicates with volute passage 145. Shaft 149 is preferably positioned within a drain recess 153 in the outer surface of volute passage M to minimize the obstruction to flow through volute passage 145.

Spring 154, via crank-arm 155 and shaft '149, maintains the valve 148 in sealing position across the mouth of drain 150 and at the same time maintains the release plate 186 in closing position over the open end 185 of screen 123 during the recirculating cycles to eliminate flow therethrough. The wash fluid and food particles passing through grille 118 during the recirculating cycles are separated by the screen 123, the shape of which channels the food particles toward the release plate 18-6 Where they are retained to prevent their recirculation with the wash water. The wash water is circuited by pump 114 through volute passage 145, feed pipe 146, and the spray means by'which the washwater is impinged upon the dishes.

To initiate the drain cycle the solenoid 157 is energized. Shaft 149, to which solenoid 157 is operatively connected by spring 158 and crank-arm 155, is rotated by the action of solenoid 157 to swing flap valve 148 across volute passage 145 and direct the flow from pump cavity 135 out through drain 150. This same rotation of shaft 149 also swings release plate 186 open to the chain line position 1186a. The proximity of screen 123 to the upper face of release plate 186 scrapes the food particles from plate 185 as it swings to position 186a. These food particles are carried through inlet 113 of pump 114 by the wash water and are mechanically macerated by the cooperative action of blades 137 on impeller unit 134 and ring 140.

The evacuation of the wash water from cabinet 111 through sump 112 during the draining cycle also assists in washing the food particles deposited on screen 123 through the open end 135 thereof.

If desired, a fresh water supply may also be directed across screen 123 during the drain cycle by means not shown.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the alternative form of dishwasher 210 is adapted to operate in combination with a garbage disposer 200 in the drain system 201 of a sink 202. A conduit 203 connects the sink side or inlet of disposer 200 with the drain 250 emanating from the pump housing 230 disposed beneath the sump section 212 of cabinet 211. The conduit 203 is positioned to include a gooseneck 204 disposed above the level of sink 202, as required by many building codes, to prevent the effluent leaving sink 202 from draining into dishwasher 210.

In this embodiment of the system, dishwasher 210 may be constructed according to the preferred embodiment and the macerating ring 140 may be eliminated.

The timer 205 which controls the cycles by actuation of the flap valve (not shown) operating solenoid 257 through wiring 206 and the motor 233 through wiring 4- 207 is also connected by wiring 1208, an extension of the circuit created by wiring 206 to operate the disposer 200 during the drain cycle.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic dishwasher having a washwater circulating cycle and a drain cycle comprising, a dish-receiving cabinet having a sump section, a drain, a pump having an inlet communicating with said sump and an outlet connected to said drain, screening means to remove and retain food particles strained from washwater passing from said cabinet into said pump inlet, a conduit connecting said pump outlet to said cabinet to return washwater thereto, valve means selectively to open said pump outlet to said conduit and close said pump outlet to drain during the circulating cycle an to close said conduit and open said drain during the drain cycle, and means operated in timed relation with the drain cycle to cause the flow of washwater to pass through said screening means during the circulating cycle to remove food particles from said washwater and to cause the washwater to pass across and past said screening means and into said pump inlet during the entine drain cycle to remove the food particles therefrom.

2. An automatic dishwasher as defined in claim I having a means in said pump to macerate the food particles entering said pump.

3. An automatic dishwasher having a washwater circulating cycle and a drain cycle comprising, a dish-receiving cabinet having a sump section, a drain, a pump having an inlet communicating with the base of said sump section, a pump outlet passage, means to macerate the food particles which enter said pump, discharge means to spray said washwater into said dish-receiving cabinet, a feed pipe connecting said pump outlet to said discharge means, valve means selctively to connect said pump outlet to said feed pipe during the circulating cycle and to said drain during said drain cycle, a funnel-shaped screen, an open end in the lowest portion of said screen above said pump inlet, a release plate normally positioned to close said open end, means to move said plate in timed relation with the beginning of the drain cycle and permit flow across said screen and through said open end during said entire drain cycle.

4. An automatic dishwasher having a washwater circulating cycle and a drain cycle comprising, a dish-receiving cabinet having a sump section, a drain, a pump having an inlet communicating with the base of said sump section, a pump outlet passage, means to macerate the food particles which enter said pump, discharge means to spray said washwater into said dish-receiving cabinet, a feed pipe connecting said pump outlet to said discharge rneans, a valve shaft, a flap valve mounted on said shaft and adapted selectively to direct flow through said drain or said feed pipe, resilient means normally positioning said valve to direct flow through said feed pipe, a solenoid operatively connected to rotate said shaft, a funnelshaped screen, an open end in the lowest portion of said screen and located above said pump inlet, a release plate, said release plate mounted on said shaft and normally positioned to close said open end, actuation of said solenoid rotating said shaft to position said valve to prevent flow through said feed pipe and swing said release plate away from the open end of said screen.

5. An automatic dishwasher having a washwater circulating cycle and a drain cycle comprising, a dish receiving cabinet having a sump section, a pump having an inlet communicating with the base of said sump section, said pump inlet opening into a pump cavity, an impeller unit within said cavity, a perforated macerating ring circumscribing said impeller unit, a volute passage leading outwardly of said macerating ring, a drain communicating with said volute passage, discharge means to spray said washwater into said dish-receiving cabinet, said discharge means connected to said outlet passage, a valve shaft, a

flap valve mounted on said shaft and adapted selectively to direct flow through said drain or said discharge means, resilient means normally positioning said valve to direct flow through said discharge means, .a solenoid operatively connected to rotate said shaft, a compound conically truncated screen, an open end in the lowest portion of said screen above said pump inlet, a release plate, said release plate mounted on said valve shaft and normally positioned across said open end, actuation of said solenoid positioning said valve to direct flow through said drain pipe and swing said release plate away from the open end of said screen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,675,192 Murdoch June 26, 1928 6 McMahan June 23, Hilliker Nov. 20, Smith Dec. 16, Walker Feb. 24, Anderson Aug. 25, Meeker et a1. June 22, Smith Jan. 3,

Abresch et a1. Feb. 14, Low Nov. 19, Levit et a1. July 14, Kesling June 7, Gilm-an Apr. 3, Butsch et a1. May 15, 

1. AN AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER HAVING A WASHWATER CIRCULATING CYCLE AND A DRAIN CYCLE COMPRISING, A DISH-RECEIVING CABINET HAVING A SUMP SECTION, A DRAIN, A PUMP HAVING AN INLET COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SUMP AND AN OUTLET CONNECTED TO SAID DRAIN, SCREENING MEANS TO REMOVE AND RETAIN FOOD PARTICLES STRAINED FROM WASHWATER PASSING FROM SAID CABINET INTO SAID PUMP INLET, A CONDUIT CONNECTING SAID PUMP OUTLET TO SAID CABINET TO RETURN WASHWATER THERETO, VALVE MEANS SELECTIVELY TO OPEN SAID PUMP OUTLET TO SAID CONDUIT AND CLOSE SAID PUMP OUTLET TO DRAIN 